(SDP) Comparing SDP's S'poreans First Policy and MOM's FCF

The Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) recent announcement to require employers in Singapore to first consider hiring Singaporeans before taking on foreigners is right in spirit. However, the details in the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) is disappointing because it will not change anything. The MOM's press release here , stated that "MOM expects all firms to consider Singaporeans fairly for jobs, based on merit. All firms are strongly encouraged to advertise their job vacancies and must ensure that jobs advertised are open to Singaporeans.” Words like "expects”, "consider” and "strongly encourage” mean that employers are not mandated by law to consider hiring Singaporeans first. This is made clear by Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-jin who confirmed that "The framework is not about ‘Hire Singaporeans First.'” Employers can still go through the motion of putting up adv...